November 18 - The Day in History

November 18 : General Interest 1991: Terry Waite released Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon free Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite after more than four years of captivity. Waite, looking thinner and his hair grayer, was freed along with American educator Thomas M. Sutherland after intense negotiations by the United Nations... read more American Revolution 1776 : Fort Washington becomes Fort Knyphausen http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fort-washington-becomes-fort-knyphausen Automotive 1996 : Volkswagen's "Dream Factory" opens in Resende, Brazil http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/volkswagens-dream-factory-opens-in-resende-brazil Civil War 1863 : President Lincoln travels to Gettysburg http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/-lincoln-travels-to-gettysburg Cold War 1987 : Congress issues final report on Iran-Contra scandal http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-issues-final-report-on-iran-contra-scandal Crime 1996 : High-profile expert on exotic birds is sentenced for smuggling parrots http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/high-profile-expert-on-exotic-birds-is-sentenced-for-smuggling-parrots Disaster 1987 : Commuters die in subway fire http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/commuters-die-in-subway-fire General Interest 1916 : Haig ends Battle of Somme http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/haig-ends-battle-of-somme 1978 : Mass suicide at Jonestown http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mass-suicide-at-jonestown Hollywood 2006 : Tom Cruise weds, again http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tom-cruise-weds-again Literary 1998 : Alice McDermott wins the National Book Award http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alice-mcdermott-wins-the-national-book-award Music 1978 : Billy Joel earns his first #1 album when 52nd Street tops the Billboard pop chart http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-joel-earns-his-first-1-album-when-52nd-street-tops-the-billboard-pop-chart Old West 1883 : Railroads create the first time zones http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/railroads-create-the-first-time-zones Presidential 1886 : Chester Arthur dies in New York http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chester-arthur-dies-in-new-york Sports 1966 : Sandy Koufax retires http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sandy-koufax-retires Vietnam War 1964 : South Vietnamese conduct largest air assault to date http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-conduct-largest-air-assault-to-date 1969 : South Vietnamese fight first major battle after U.S. troops are withdrawn http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-fight-first-major-battle-after-us-troops-are-withdrawn 1970 : Nixon appeals to Congress for funds for Cambodia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-appeals-to-congress-for-funds-for-cambodia World War I 1916 : Battle of the Somme ends http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-somme-ends World War II 1940 : Hitler furious over Italy's debacle in Greece http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-furious-over-italys-debacle-in-greece

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